Base Mainnet Enhances Decentralization with Fault Proofs

What Are the Fault Proofs on Base Mainnet?

The fault proofs on the Base mainnet facilitate various aspects of decentralization, particularly in validation and community engagement. They feature two key components:

• Permissionless output proposals: Anyone can propose outputs without requiring permission.
• Permissionless challenges to output proposals: Users can challenge output proposals freely, enhancing transparency.

Without fault proofs, an L2 is considered centralized. This centralization occurs when a single proposer can influence the state of the L2, which changes with each transaction. By introducing fault proofs, the chain becomes more decentralized, allowing anyone to assert claims about the state of the blockchain, rather than being limited to a centralized party. This means that:

• Anyone can withdraw funds from the L2 to an L1 (Layer 1) without centralized oversight.
• Faulty or fraudulent claims can be challenged by any user, fostering a more robust system.

The implementation of these fault proofs is scheduled for October 30, in collaboration with Optimism, which has successfully integrated fault proofs as part of their OP stack. Optimism has had fault proofs operational on their mainnet since June 2024.

It’s important to note that withdrawing funds from Base’s L2 to Ethereum (the L1) will still involve a seven-day challenge period. However, this period may extend if a transaction is contested.

Understanding the Collaboration and Technical Framework

Base, developed by Coinbase, is built on Ethereum. When all L1 smart contracts are upgraded, this upgrade will occur atomically, meaning it will happen in a single transaction, ensuring efficiency and coherence across the network.

Conclusion

Base’s L2 mainnet is set to enhance its decentralization through the introduction of fault proofs, empowering users to challenge transactions without relying on centralized entities. This collaborative effort with Optimism, which has already implemented fault proofs, signifies a major step towards a more decentralized blockchain ecosystem.